UNICEF Philippines

We have all heard that exercising regularly is good for us. But does simply knowing that mean we actually do it? Communicating a message is necessary, but not sufficient, to change behavior. Real change requires understanding the motivations, barriers, and social norms that shape people’s decisions. That’s where behavioral and social sciences come in. This week, UNICEF Philippines and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) — through its pioneering College of Development Communication, University of the Philippines Los Baños — took an important step to bring this thinking into the classroom. Social and Behavior Change (SBC) will now be embedded in undergraduate and graduate programs, equipping future development communicators to design people-centered strategies that create sustainable shifts in practice and policy. I’m grateful to Vice Chancellor Dr. Agham Cuevas, Dean Dr. Edmund Centeno, and the CDC faculty for their openness and leadership. And I’m especially proud of my UNICEF colleagues Kathleen Solis, Katrina Arianne Ebora-Villafranca, and Alyza Joy Narvaez, whose dedication has been shifting our SBC work towards strengthening national systems — ensuring that impact goes beyond projects to lasting change. Together, we hope to co-develop a model that shows how behavioral science and communication can be meaningfully combined for greater impact — one that other academic institutions can also learn from. #ForEveryChild #Philippines #SocialAndBehaviorChange #DevelopmentCommunication Vincent Petit Rudrajit Das

My arrival in the #Philippines feels truly complete after visiting UNICEF Philippines’ Field Office in Cotabato and meeting some of the communities we serve in #BARMM. This was the very first thing I hoped to do upon my appointment as UNICEF Representative to the Philippines. To listen, learn, and witness firsthand the realities faced by children and families in #Bangsamoro.      While significant process has been made in recent years, the challenges remain stark: 59.9% of children in Bangsamoro still have not gotten a single dose of vaccine. And even though the number of children with chronic malnutrition has declined by over 10% between 2015-2024, the data shows that this still affects over one-third of children. Open defecation is still a pressing issue. 90% of children aged 3-4 are not attending early learning and almost every third child in BARMM does not attend primary school. Two in every ten girls marry before turning 18 and over 40% of children live in poverty.     Yet, amidst these statistics is hope. I was honored to meet passionate educators like Teacher Darlene at Rojas Elementary School, who are giving out-of-school youth a second chance at a better future through the Alternative Learning System.      I exchanged stories with children, mothers, and our community partners living in stilt houses along Quirino Bridge in Cotabato City and gained deeper insights into their daily struggles with clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. It was a humbling experience.       Of course, meeting the Mindanao Field Office team and its Chief Andreas Wuestenberg whose dedication fuels our mission to build a better future for all children in BARMM left me deeply inspired and even more motivated to deliver results with our partners and donors in ways that are truly fit #ForEveryChild in Bangsamoro. 

How is the #Philippines progressing towards the Sustainable Development Goals? The results are mixed. Access to social services is expanding—but the quality of those services often lags behind. More births are taking place in health facilities, yet neonatal and maternal mortality remain stubbornly high. More children are in school, with gender parity achieved, but learning outcomes are not improving. Access to basic water and sanitation is nearly universal, but safely managed services are still far behind. In short, access is improving, but outcomes are not changing fast enough. This points to a deeper challenge: ensuring that services are not only available, but effective and of high quality. At the 16th National Convention on Statistics, this reality was front and center. The discussion underscored the urgency of closing the gap between access and quality, and the crucial role of data in guiding policy and action so that progress truly translates into better lives. Thank you to the Philippine Statistics Authority for convening such a timely and important exchange. Grateful to UN Resident Coordinator Arnaud Peral for the opportunity to represent the United Nations Philippines in this important discussion. #Philippines #SDGs #NCS2025 #DataForDevelopment #ForEveryChild #SustainableDevelopment